The Glass Is Either Half Empty Or Half Full …………

When one looks that at both NFL franchises in the Bay area of California. I can’t help but wonder what went wrong with both ? The Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers have become the complete antithesis of everything you’d expect to see from a successfully ran NFL team.

Oakland Raiders' logo

And desptite a rich vein of success by the two franchises through the course of their history. Over the last few year it has been anything but that for these two proud NFL franchises. Whether it’s been through a lack of genuine care by their respective ownership structures . Or merely from the fact of the inexperience shown by their coaching staff. What has gone on and has been exhibited as coaching prowess , has merely brought about abject failure and ridicule for the two teams. It can be said that when these two teams aren’t part of the equation within the NFL . In many respects one could view that all is not necessarily right in the world of football . For both the Raiders and 49ers their’s is a unique history and one that the NFL has every reason to be proud of. Of late however , that’d be the furthest thing from the truth.

49ers' logo

For the Oakland Raiders (5-11) coming off a season of disappointment. And when considers that in the AFC West , an (8-8) record brought a divisional championship and a playoff berth for the San Diego Chargers . It tells you how woefully inept, the division really is ! It has to be said that the expectations were indeed high for the Raiders. But once again they failed to live up to them. And even if perhaps their best display of the season was their derailing of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7), 31-24 in a meaningless game at the end of the regular season. In reality it did very little to brighten the hopes of their fans. As devout and vociferous as they are , most members of the Raider Nation tend to know what’s right , from what’s wrong, with their team. They may not always show it but many of them are some of the most knowledgeable fans in all of the NFL.

Raiders' starting quarterback JaMarcus Russell at the team's training camp in Napa , California. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Paul Sakuma ...........

The upshot of it all is with first year coach Tom Cable , the team is still finding some semblance of discipline when it comes to playing the game with any real authority and understanding. And it certainly hasn’t helped that the team’s starting quarterback JaMarcus Russell continues to struggle , despite his alleged athletic prowess. He most definitely doesn’t show that he understands the complexities of playing the postion. Furthermore , his over reliance on the fact that he has an explosive arm, seems to do little in serving him or his team well.

Raiders' coach Tom Cable watches the team's practice with a great deal of inensity and some might say apprehension. This upcoming season will no doubt be filled with a great deal of ups and down for the franchise as well as Cable's coaching staff. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Paul Sakuma ..........................

Offensively , all the arsenal seems to be in place. But it was the inexperience shown by the players that basically has laid the groundwork for their failure throughout much of last season. On the defensive side of the ball things were bearly measurable there, as well. If anything the Raiders’ defense left a great deal to be desired. These stats show that there’s still a great deal to be done by the team before they can be thought of as a legitimate contender not only within their division. But very much also, within the AFC and the entire NFL as a whole.

Whatever leadership that can be provided to the team , may well have to come in the guise of veteran quarterback, Jeff Garcia . The player has now become somewhat of a journeyman around the league. Bringing along with him a somewhat disciplined art to his play. If anything at the first sign of real adversity and undue pressure shown by Russell. There’s no doubt that Cable, will look to Garcia, to provide the stability and leadership needed for the team.

And if the Oakland Raiders are to fare well. Then a great deal of presence will have to be shown by the entire team , both on and off the field.

For Niners’ coach , Mike Singletary , his biggest problem this upcoming season, may well be to entrust one of the two quarterbacks he feels, will be able to lead this team with the reins. On the one hand, he has former overall #1 draft pick, Alex Smith . The player’s career thus far in the NFL , has proven to be something of a bust . Inexplicably, however, he still remains a part of the franchise’s plans for the immediate future. Alongside Smith , there’s also Shaun Hill . Both have in excess of five years experience in the NFL. But the effort put forth by either player , can be best described as meager by NFL standards.

Denise DeBartolo-York and her husband , Dr John York , owners of the San Francisco 49ers. At the helm of the franchise as owners. The couple have squandered whatever goodwill that they'd built up within the city of San Francisco and the franchise's fans. picture appears courtesy of jamd @ copyrighted material . All rights reserved

And for the San Francisco 49ers (7-9) , coming off another sub par season. It can be best explained away, that there was both turmoil on and off the field in terms of their competitive mindset. Not that Singletary hasn’t brought about some resolve to the team. But herein, lies the fact, as to the woes of the Forty Niners. This is a team where its ownership, if anything , hasn’t been overly concerned with putting a competive product on the field of play. For owners , Denise DeBartolo-York and her husband , Dr John York . It has been more about the perceived appearance that they do care about the franchise. If anything the couple has shown a great deal of apathy as to the plight of the franchise over the years.